Consumer fraud complaints in Hawaii increased 46 percent in 2008 from 2007, Hawaii's Better Business Bureau reported today.

Last year, Hawaii consumers made 3,689 fraud complaints and ranked 14 for such complaints nationwide on a per capita basis.

Dwight Kealoha, chief executive officer of Hawaii's BBB, credits much of the increase in complaints to greater awareness by consumers on how to recognize and report fraudulent activities.

Complaints throughout the state include those for third party and creditor debt collection, Internet services, shop-at-home and catalog sales, and foreign money offers and counterfeit check scams.

Nationwide, the FTC logged more than 1.2 million complaints between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2008, up from just over 1 million in 2007.

For consumer information or to file a complaint, visit hawaii.bbb.org.